LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- 7.4 million viewers (5.7 household rating) tuned into the two-hour premiere of USA's original series "The 4,400" on Sunday, making the highest-rated and most-watched new series premiere ever on basic cable.

"4,400" beat the previous record of 6.4 million (4.7 household rating) for fellow USA series "The Dead Zone," not to mention the launches of "Peacemakers" (4.0 household rating and 5.2 million viewers) and "Monk" (3.5 household rating and 4.8 million viewers).

"We're thrilled with the extraordinary response to "The 4400" from critics as well as viewers," USA Network president Bonnie Hammer said in a press release touting the news. "Its success is a result of a great product enhanced by creative marketing and strong on-air promotion - in other words, the total collaboration of a great team."

The broadcast also fared particularly well among adults 18-49 (3.48 rating) and adults 25-54 (3.75 rating) and was the most-watched original program on the network overall since 1998's mini-series "Moby Dick" (10.4 million viewers).